Clark reaches Women’s Soccer Final Four

A young spectator returns a ball that was kicked out of play. Aaron McPherson/The Indy

Aaron McPherson – Reporter

The Clark Women’s Soccer team is making their second straight trip to the final four of the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) soccer championship tournament in Tukwila, Washington, after their Nov. 3 home victory over the Bellevue Bulldogs, 4-0. Bellevue finished the season as the second-place team from the West Region.

The Penguins will be taking on the Tacoma Titans, who ranked third in the West Region standings. The match will be on Nov. 9 at 12:30 p.m.

Sarah Teubner, Penguins team captain said the team adjusts tactics depending on which team they face, but maintain the same consistent quality. “The main thing is we always play the same, and so we focus a little less on other teams and more on us,” she said. “If we can just perfect us, then we don’t care about the other teams. Nobody is going to beat us.”

Players fight for control of the ball; this led up to Clark’s final goal, made by Sophomore Maddie Topaum (17) at the 81:29 mark. Aaron McPherson/The Indy

Directly following Clark’s Nov. 9 face-off against Tacoma, the semi-final game will be at 3 p.m., between the Peninsula Pirates, North Region champions, and the Highline Thunderbirds, West Region champions and defending NWAC champions.

Last year, both Clark and Tacoma lost in the semi-finals, tying for third place, a best for the Penguins.

This year’s championship will take place Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m.

Freshman Turner Joy works the ball with plenty of space. Aaron McPherson/The Indy

“The biggest thing that we always preach is ‘legacy,’ so like, what legacy are you going to leave?” Teubner said. “Obviously we want to win a championship, but if that doesn’t pan out, then we’re leaving it to the freshmen this year to take what they’ve learned from us and just build on it and make it a better team next year.”

The games are available to watch live online on the official YouTube channel, NWAC Sports Network.